VINCE NEIL – Tattoos And Tequila

A new solo album from Vince Neil. A solo album that is a covers album. Not exactly what the world has been screaming for. Let’s face it, Vince Neil was never a great singer. Not even a good one. But apparently he’s got something because he’s still with Mötley Crüe and that’s where everybody wants him to be. But another solo album that is full covers? I can’t say I was excited. And not only because Vince Neil might not be my biggest hero, but because cover albums are seldom of any interest. Also, Vince’s earlier solo albums hasn’t exactly been all that, so to speak. His debut, Exposed (1993) was actually really neat, despite Ron Nevison’s coward production and the overrated Steve Stevens. Sure, Stevens is a fast and technical player but he often sounds like computer game. But many of the songs were really good and with another singer, that album could have turned out great. His second one, Carved In Stone (1995) was a desperate pull to keep up with the trends, but his industrial and modern sounds didn’t come across as a great career move or honest one bit and the album bombed. Vince Neil has always come off as a lazy and big-headed dude and therefore I suspected that his covers album would be a disillusioned affair and something he put out in rush to coincide with his autobiography that holds the same name as the CD.

So much to my surprise, this is actually a very good album and I’m very surprised of how alive and honest this album feels. But first, there are actually two new songs on here that aren’t covers. The opener and title track must be one of the best songs Neil has ever recorded as a solo artist. Yes, it’s a little corny, but it grooves and it is catchy as hell. The other new song is ”Another Bad Day”, a ballad that is a leftover from Mötley Crüe’s New Tattoo album. Which feels a little weird as it would have been one of the best songs off that album, had it made it there. Now to the covers. “He’s A Whore” is a heavier version of the old Cheap Trick song, a very good cover indeed and his versions of ”AC/DC” by The Sweet and ”Nobody’s Fault” by Aerosmith are being done more than justice here. The fact that Neil is a big fan of both Aerosmith and Sweet really shows here, like he really tried his hardest to make himself believe that he actually wrote those himself. And he gives us a killer version of the Scorpions’ ”Another Piece Of Meat”. Very good. On the other hand we get a pretty pointless version of Credence Clearwater Revival’s ”Who Stopped The Rain” and yet another cover of Elvis’ ”Viva Las Vegas”, just like anyone wanted one of those. And it’s not a very good one either. The Sex Pistols “No Feelings” really fits Neil voice. You really don’t need to be a great singer to pull off a Sex Pistols, so go figure. Also, The Crüe did cover “Anarchy In The U.K.” and I really liked that one. To finish the album with “Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers” by ZZ Top feels like the perfect ending – I mean, who’s more of a beer drinker and hell raiser than Vince Neil? Suits the guy very well.

As an album, this might not go down in history as a classic – probably the other way around, this album might just be forgotten this time next year. But it is a fun album and it’s really nice to hear an artist interpret their idols without sounding dull and predictable, for once. An album like this could also work wonders on an after party gone dull. If you take this for what it is, this album will be an enjoyable one.